1. Elements of Needs Assessment in the context of training
Elements of needs-based training
Needs-based training requirements
Needs-based training requirements review

2. Meaning of Needs-based Training
To determine the actual needs of the training participants/
trainees, it is not based on assumptions
Deficiencies or inadequate skills to perform their jobs
To know their jobs, their organizations mission, visions, objectives, organizational structures, services/products
Identify implementation strategies, record keeping systems and monitoring devices,
What are trainees requirements to know to perform their jobs properly or improve their job?

3. Teachers Training Needs Assessments
Participants feel they have inadequate knowledge/skills of the topic(s),
Participants want more knowledge to improve their job skills
Trainees anxious about their job knowledge
Identify participants level of knowledge/ skills to perform their assignments in their jobs
For teachers training program, training components are
Identify needs of the teachers
Curriculum development
Evaluation of training

4. Criteria to Identify Needs
Identify the level of the knowledge/skills
Determine level of trainees anxiety during the assessment period. The anxiety scaling could be 1-5.
Select right person(s) for the needs assessments
Ask relevant questions: What they need
Be diplomatic, tactical and smart
Know about the existing curriculums of the teachers training programs
Know the organizational structures/programs/policies
Interrelationships of the stakeholders of the organizations/programs
Use face to face dialogue
Create a safe environment for open communication
Warm up the conversations
Take away supervisors
Keep dialogue anonymity (report anonymously)
No blame
Explore genuine interest of the organization needs, trainees needs

5. Needs Assessments Elements
Appraisers should listen and observe very carefully
Be cooperative and flexible
Ask question to all levels of the people involved in the program
What training do you need”
What can you contribute to the training?
What are your specific problems?
Do not speculate/assume
Assessor must be bias free and remain open to ideas
Use “best practices’ as point of reference
Interview people on-site
Use simple language
Use institutional terminology that the organization/program, institutions’ texts
Solve problem together
Recap of on-site interviews, dialogues and experience

6. Needs Assessments Elements
Do not pressure for ideas rather encourage to provide information on issues
Do not try to get everything in one-time event/session
Develop a support network
Collect names and their contact information
Ask for feedback after training
Ask, ask, and ask what they need
Always keep the program, organizations mission, vision, objectives and organizations standards in mind.
Share examples of the best practices of the same types of organizations/programs
Cite best curriculums
Present curriculum training tailored to staff needs

7. Needs Assessments Elements
Review the organizational standard
Prepare a flexible and adaptable document for future change
Review the document by the technical expert
Share the findings and suggestions with the related stakeholders
Make checklists of the most common agreement of the needs
Submit the final needs assessments report to the executive and discuss in person if need further clarifications
Advise executives use needs assessment report as a guide lines for organizational/employees development
Respect for needs

8. In Case of Training Curriculum Development
Use needs assessments report as a guide for development of need based curriculum
Use field training as much as possible on clients sites.
Provide training with local examples, stories visual arts, films and music
Provide examples best practices tailored for the program
Collect feed back about the trainings

9. Post-needs Assessment Tips
Present training tailored to staff needs
Make more observation and focus on staffs needs
Rethink about the appropriateness of the suggestions
Discuss what a future monitoring will demand
Ask for feedback about new documents of the needs assessments
Occasional visits to know the perceptions of the trainees of the new training curriculums and observe anxiety levels of the participants

10. Needs Assessments Tips
Training needs based purely on observation and performance
Record ongoing process of training development and review the new requirements
Review trainers performance
Develop a support network
Mentoring trainees network and suggestions for fulfilling their future needs and development